NPC In The News

Your GPA and Sorority Recruitment

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Academics are an incredibly important part of sorority
membership. In fact, many NPC member organizations include scholarship or
academic success in their values and standards of membership collective values.
Because academics are a major part of sorority life, they are also an important
part of sorority recruitment. Here are three things you need to know about your
high school GPA and how it will affect your sorority recruitment experience.

1. Every chapter has different GPA requirements for new
members: You are allowed to register for the recruitment process regardless of
GPA because the College Panhellenics coordinating recruitment do not set a
minimum GPA for potential new members per the NPC Unanimous Agreements.
However, there may be a GPA requirement per the institution’s student handbook
for participation. It is possible that you may not get invited back to a
chapter where you had a great conversation after the first round if your GPA
does not meet the chapter’s standards. You may also be released from the
recruitment process if your GPA does not meet any of the chapter’s grade
requirements.

2. Chapter GPA requirements may change once you are initiated:
Sometimes, the GPA requirement for potential new members is the same as it is
for active members and other times it is different. Often, the GPA for active
members is higher to uphold the standard and value of the organization. Some
chapters may extend a bid to a woman who is below the minimum GPA requirement,
but such new members will have to work harder to achieve the higher active
member GPA.In addition, if you decide to pursue a leadership role, there is a
standard that officers must achieve to secure and maintain a position.

3. Every chapter has opportunities to help you achieve your
academic goals: If all this sounds intimidating, don’t worry! Every chapter has
someone dedicated to furthering academic success, whether it is an advisor,
council member, or appointed sister. They will help you set up a plan to get
your GPA on track and to reach your personal academic goals. It is a good idea
to ask chapters about their scholarship plans when you go through recruitment.

It is important for you to understand the requirements, and
to set realistic expectations of your recruitment experience. Many women choose
to participate in informal recruitment or try again as upperclassmen to focus
on improving their college GPA. If you get released due to grades, understand
that it is a standard of membership for all chapters. Academics are such an
important part of sorority membership and recruitment because it is the main
reason why sororities were founded: to give women a safe space to advance
academically. Think of your sorority experience as a chance to do that now!